Reel.



' T. MASON.

REEL.

APPLICATION FILED 23.17, 1909.

953,479., n Patented Mar. 29, 1910.

CJi

THOMAS MASON, OF JACKSONVILLE, ILLINOIS.

REEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 29, 1910.

Application filed April 17, 1909. Serial No. 490,636.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS MASON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Jacksonville, in the county of Morgan and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and Improvements in Reels, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in fishing reels.

The object of the invention is to provide mechanism, whereby the linemay be paid out rapidly, and yet be under perfect control of thefisherman.

According to my invention, I provide a telescopic shaft, on one section-of which are grooves with which a spring cooperates to hold theattached gear in relative position, said grooves acting as the means fordetermining the movement of the shaft.

The invention also comprehends improvements in the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts, all of which willbe hereinafterpointed out in the claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1, is a perspective view of my improved reel.Fig. 2, is a front view partly in section. Fig. 3, is a section afterFig. 2, parts in operative position. Fig. 4, is an enlarged section online 4 4 Fig. Q. Fig. 5, is a detail perspective view of the plate.

The numeral 1, indicates the casing of a fishing reel having the usualdrum or spool 1a, and which forms no part of my present invention.

2, indicates the drum or spool shaft, extending outside the casing andprovided with a pinion 3. A curved leaf spring 5, is attached to theinside of the casing 1, and bears against the inner face of the drum orspool 1, to form a drag. The tension of the curved leaf spring 5,against the drum is regulated by a set screw 6, operating in a threadedopening in the casing and bearing directly on said spring.

Fitted to the outside of the casing 1, in any convenient manner is anauxiliary casing 7, through which the head of the screw G, extends.Extending from the casing 1, and within the auxiliary casing 7, is thestationary member 8, of a telescopic shaft 9, said member having ashoulder 10. Slidably mounted on the member 8, is a member 11, havingsecured to its inner end a gear wheel 12, designed to mesh with thepinion 3, and on the outer end of member 11, is a handle 13. rlhe member11, is provided with two annular grooves 14, and 15. A spring 16, isarranged in the auxiliary casing, and is designed to coperate with thegrooves 14, and 15, to hold the female meinber 11, of shaft 9, inadjusted position. The spring is located between the wall of anextension 9a, of the auxiliary casing and a plate 17 the latter servingas a means for confining and supporting the spring in position.

The plate 17 is formed with a round open end notched to t snugly thesleeve 11, and is also provided with a raised portion 11a, to form abase to receive the curved end 16, of the spring 16. A rivet or the like'17, passes through the plate 17, and the extension 9a, of the auxiliarycasing to hold said plate in position. The spring 16, comprises a singlepiece of metal bent upon itself to form the curved end 16a, and twoforwardly extending arms 16h, which project across the plane of thesleeve 11. rlhe tension of the spring is such as will normally tend todraw the two spring arms 16", toward each other, hence they will alwaysbe in contact with the sleeve. This construction comprises the spring inthe compartment formed by the extension 9a, and the plate 17 and it isthereby prevented from becoming loose or in otherwise getting out oforder.

In "operation, the member 11, is forced inwardly toward the casing 1, tobring the gear wheel 12, in alinement with the pinion 3, so that thedrum or spool shaft 2, between the drum may be revolved to wind theline. When the parts are in this position the spring arms 16h, slip intothe groove 15, and thereby hold the gears in mesh. lVhen it is desiredhowever to pay out the line, the handle 13, hence the member 11, isdrawn away from the casing to the position shown in Fig. 2. Thestationary member 8, acts as a journal for the member 11, so as toprovide a proper means for guiding the parts in their movement. When inthis withdrawn position, the spring arms 16h, slip into the groove 14,and hold the gear out of mesh with the pinion. The grooves are shallowso that but slight force is necessary to disengage the spring when it isnecessary to move the member 11, in or out, and yet said grooves must beof suflicient depth to form substantial seats for the spring arms.

The device is simple and it requires little inconvenience to design thegears to permit the drum to freely revolve, as it only requires a slightpull out on the handle as the same is being Wound. rIhe device is alsoefficient in that no separate lever or button is required, in additionto the usual handle to affect engagement or disengagement of the gears,the Whole operation being performed While the drum is being revolved.

The special form of device described for causing a drag is ofimportance, as by the arrangement of the adjusting screw the tension ofthe spring may be regulated to prevent backlash of the drum. Of courseit will be understood this feature of the invention may be dispensedWith if desired.

The construction of the grooved sliding member of the shaft, and itscooperating spring, is such as to preclude liability of breaking orbecoming out of order.

I-Iaving described my invention What I claim is* l. In a reel, thecombination with a drum or spool shaft, a gear on said shaft, atelescopic shaft, one member of which is movable and formed Withgrooves, a pair of spring arms lying across opposite sides of themovable member and adapted to engage either of the grooves, to positionthe grooved member, and a gear on the grooved member which may mesh Withthe gear on the drum shaft.

2. In a reel, the combination with a drum shaft, a gear, a telescopicshaft, one member of which is formed With annular grooves, a gearmounted on the grooved member, and movable therewith, and a U-shapespring, the legs of which cooperate With the grooves to hold the gear inor out of mesh.

In a reel, the combination With a casing and a shaft, an auxiliarycasing, a gear on the shaft, a stationary shaft member in the auxiliarycasing, a slidable shaft member having grooves and mounted on thestationary member and limited in its movement in one direction by ashoulder, a gear on the slidable member, said gear meshing With thefirst mentioned gear When the slidable member againstthe shoulder, and aU-shape spring on the inside of the auxiliary casing the legs of Whichcooperate with the grooves to hold the gears in or out of mesh.

t. In a reel, the combination With a casing and a shaft, an auxiliarycasing, a gear on the shaft, a stationary shaft member in the auxiliarycasing, a slidable shaft member having grooves and mounted on thestationary member and limited in its movement in one direction by ashoulder, a gear on the slidable member, said gear meshing With thefirst mentioned gear when the slidable meinber is against the shoulder,and a spring including two legs on the inside of the auxiliary casing,the legs engaging opposite sides of the slidable shaft member tocooperate with the grooves to hold the gears in or out of mesh, and apartition which with the outer Wall of the auxiliary casing forms acompartment for the spring.

5. In a reel, the combination with a casing, a shaft, a pinion on saidshaft, a slidable shaft formed with grooves, a gear on the slidableshaft, a spring formed with two yielding' arms embracing the shaft toengage with either of the grooves to hold the gear and pinion in or outof engagement.

6. In a reel, the combination With a casing', a shaft, a pinion on theshaft, a slidable shaft formed with grooves, a gear on the slidableshaft, a plate formed with a seat in which slides the slidable shaft, asupport intermediate the casing and the plate, and a spring element bentaround the support and formed with tivo extending arms embracing theslidable shaft to lit in either of the grooves thereof to hold the gearsin or out of mesh.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of tivo witnesses.

CHARLES A. BARNns, IVALTER BnLLA'r'rr.

